At 88, John Farquharson had spent the last year in and out of hospitals, grappling with declining health and the challenges of aging. A once-fiercely independent man with a positive outlook, John found himself feeling depressed, confused, and frustrated. After a most-recent seven-week stay at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the health-care team was cautious about discharging him. They wanted to ensure he had the right supports in place.
“We were very worried about sending him home,” says Brian Grant, social worker at Sunnybrook’s Reactivation Care Centre. “We discussed long-term care at length, but his wish was to get back home. We wanted to respect that, but we wanted it to be a successful return home.”
The health-care team, aware of his concerns, held regular meetings to discuss his progress and needs. They recognized that John didn’t just want to leave the hospital; he wanted to reclaim his independence and maintain a quality of life in the home that he loved.
It was during this time that Sunnybrook and its community partners launched the Sunnybrook-to-Home program. This program was designed specifically to help patients transition safely back to their homes with the wrap-around support they needed from the day they got home.
“With Sunnybrook-to-Home, there was no need to even consider long-term care anymore,” admits Brian.
After careful planning and coordination with community health providers, John was finally ready to go home. Within 24 hours of arriving, he received comprehensive in-home care services that filled gaps and strengthened the supports he already had in place through primary and community care. His care now encompassed nursing, personal care, meal support, social work, physiotherapy and occupational therapy – all tailored to his specific needs.
“When I came home, I needed more help than I realized,” says John. “I don’t like asking people for help. Before I’d say I don’t need that, but now I’ll take all the help I can get!”
John realized that accepting support didn’t mean losing independence; rather, it could enhance his ability to live at home safely and comfortably.
Grateful to be receiving care at home, and reflecting on his time in hospital, he admits, “I do not want to go back to those places.”
Through regular check-ins, the Sunnybrook-to-Home team and its community partners ensures John is thriving. He learned to appreciate the community of support around him—neighbours and friends who check-in, and the health-care team that remained invested in his well-being.
